Deck 7: Social Class in the United States

Question 1

Manuel does not have the food, clothing, or shelter to survive another cold winter. Manuel is experiencing:

A) Relative Poverty
B) Absolute Poverty
C) Residual Poverty
D) Transitional Poverty

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Barbara's annual income is only $65.00 above the poverty line. Because her income is so close to the poverty line, Barbara is considered:

A) Relatively Poor
B) Transitionally Poor
C) Absolutely Poor
D) Near Poor

Answer 2

D

Question 3

There is a telethon on channel 57 right now. The sponsors are asking viewers to phone in donations to feed the starving children in Haiti. These children, who do not have enough food to survive, are experiencing:

A) Absolute Poverty
B) Relative Poverty
C) Marginal Poverty
D) Transitional Poverty

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Norm aims to become a wealthy man within the next ten years. He wants to know if wealthy men are more likely to be single or married. Norm asks his sociology professor and the professor replies:

A) The wealthiest people in the U.S. are predominantly married.
B) The wealthiest people in the U.S. are predominantly single.
C) Marital status is not related to wealth.
D) None of the Above

Question 5

Jawanna works at the school cafeteria. When most students go home for the summer months, the cafeteria temporarily downsizes the staff. Jawanna is usually out of work between May and August. This temporary state reflects:

A) Residual Poverty
B) Marginal Poverty
C) Absolute Poverty
D) Relative Poverty

Question 6

Wanda is moving to Japan to teach English. Because she will be out of the U.S. for five years, Wanda wants to sell all of her material possessions including a condominium, a car, furniture, and electronics. These possessions, along with the money that Wanda has in the bank, are valued at $330,000. This $330,000 reflects Wanda's:

A) Wealth
B) Income
C) Prestige
D) Power

Question 7

Levi is a physician. He has the ability to get the nurses to do what he wants them to do. He tells them what to do with the patients and when to do it. This ability to impose his will on others reflects Levi's:

A) Power
B) Prestige
C) Wealth
D) Income

Question 8

Eileen is eligible to receive assistive services like food stamps, health care, and housing from the government. This suggests that:

A) Eileen's income is above the poverty line
B) Eileen represents the near poor
C) Eileen's income is below the poverty line
D) None of the Above

Question 9

Many factory workers join unions because unions are able to impose the will of the employees onto the employers. As such, unions wield a great amount of:

A) Prestige
B) Wealth
C) Income
D) Power

Question 10

Zela is a very religious woman. She believes husbands are the head of the household and that wives should submit to their husbands' wills. Zela believes that husbands have been given power over women by God. From Zela's perspective, the husband's power is:

A) Relative
B) Elite
C) Delegated
D) Transitional

Question 11

In the United States, the power elite is made up of:

A) Celebrities, High-Ranking Political Officials, Military Leaders
B) Corporate Leaders, Lawyers and Celebrities
C) Military Leaders, Celebrities and Lawyers
D) High-Ranking Political Officials, Military Leaders and Corporate Leaders

Question 12

In India, society is divided into 4 different groups called castes. The castes are ranked from the highest to the lowest and certain societal rewards are given to those in the higher castes, but withheld from the lower castes. This ranking is an example of:

A) Social Stratification
B) Social Reform
C) Income Distribution
D) Structural Mobility

Question 13

Malcolm was born into a poor family. Both of his parents were also born into poor families. Even more, Malcolm's grandparents were born into poor families. This reflects:

A) Relative Poverty
B) Absolute Poverty
C) Residual Poverty
D) Transitional Poverty

Question 14

Mona makes $600 per night as a private dancer. This figure represents Mona's:

A) Wealth
B) Income
C) Prestige
D) Power

Question 15

Professor Kaegen is conducting research on gender bias in poverty. Professor Kaegen is examining:

A) The Masculization of Poverty
B) The Feminization of Poverty
C) The Relativity of Poverty
D) The Marginality of Poverty

Question 16

Jenny went to college intending to meet a potential mate, not to receive a degree. She dated fourteen guys in three years. In an effort to determine who will make the very best husband, Jenny has ranked the fourteen young men in terms of their wealth, power, and prestige. Jenny is using a system of:

A) Income Distribution
B) Structural Mobility
C) Social Stratification
D) Social Reform

Question 17

Professor Fuentes is teaching her students about the three components of the social stratification system. She tells them that the three components are:

A) Income, Wealth and Power
B) Power, Wealth and Prestige
C) Power, Income and Prestige
D) Wealth, Income and Prestige

Question 18

Elizabeth and Harry are divorced. Elizabeth receives $12,000 per month in alimony from her ex- husband and $6,000 per month from her job as a college professor for a total of $18,000 per month. This $18,000 per month represents Elizabeth's:

A) Prestige
B) Power
C) Wealth
D) Income

Question 19

The Cedar River Restaurant recently went out of business. Luanne, who was a waitress there, is now between jobs. She is putting in applications and interviewing to find a new position. In the mean time, Luanne is experiencing:

A) Relative Poverty
B) Absolute Poverty
C) Residual Poverty
D) Transitional Poverty

Question 20

Terry lives in a shabby apartment and uses public transportation to get around. Larry owns a deluxe home and drives a brand new Mercedes. Compared to Larry, Terry is experiencing:

A) Relative Poverty
B) Absolute Poverty
C) Residual Poverty
D) Transitional Poverty

Question 21

Sita is giving a class presentation on the voting behavior of Americans. She correctly tells her classmates that people with higher incomes are:

A) More likely than people with low incomes to vote
B) Less likely than people with low incomes to vote
C) Just as likely as people with low incomes to vote
D) None of the above

Question 22

Marquita is working on a projecor her sociology class. She asks every student living in her dorm how much money they expect to make at their first job. She finds that most students expect to make between $40,000 and $80,000 per year upon graduation. Marquita concludes that most of the graduates expect to be part of the:

A) Upper Class
B) Middle Class
C) Upper Middle Class
D) Working Class

Question 23

Willie lives in a housing project in New York City. Willie's neighborhood is characterized by high levels of poverty, single-parent households, and male unemployment. Willie is a part of the:

A) Middle class
B) Lower Class
C) Urban Underclass
D) Working Class

Question 24

Pauline started out at the company as a mail room clerk. After two years she was promoted to the position of Administrative Assistant. After 5 years, she became the Office Manager and now she is being promoted to the position of Associate Director. Pauline has experienced:

A) Exchange Mobility
B) Horizontal Mobility
C) Intragenerational Mobility
D) Intergenerational Mobility

Question 25

Michael is a member of the working class. He tells his son thaor every working class person who moves up to the middle class, there is a person that moves down to a lower class. Michael is teaching his son about:

A) Intergenerational Mobility
B) Intragenerational Mobility
C) Exchange Mobility
D) Structural Mobility

Question 26

Dr. Edna Garrett is a physician who owns her own home, runs her own practice, and earns about $100,000 per year. Dr. Garrett is a member of the:

A) Upper Class
B) Elite Class
C) Upper Middle Class
D) Middle Class

Question 27

The concentration of poverty in a neighborhood is related to:

A) Increased Drug Use
B) High Crime Rates
C) Increased Single Parent Homes
D) All of the Above

Question 28

Laurie is the campaign manager for a mayoral candidate. Laurie tells the staff that they should target the voters who are a part of the largest social class in the United States. Laurie wants to target the:

A) Upper Class
B) Upper Middle Class
C) Middle Class
D) Lower Class

Question 29

Which of the following is true concerning neighborhoods and social class?

A) There has been a decrease in the concentration of poor people in neighborhoods
B) There has been a decrease in the concentration of affluent people in neighborhoods
C) There has been a decrease in both the concentration of poor people and affluent people in neighborhoods
D) There has been an increase in both the concentration of poor people and affluent people in neighborhoods

Question 30

Shawn's father performs manual labor at the paper mill and his mother is a custodian at the junior high school. Shawn comes from an) family.

A) working class
B) middle class
C) lower class
D) urban underclass

Question 31

Babacar just moved his family to the U.S. from Kenya. When asked why he moved, Babacar said that this country will offer him an opportunity to change his social class. Babacar appreciates the available in the U.S.

A) social mobility
B) social stratification
C) social structure
D) social class

Question 32

Barbara earns minimum wage and lives paycheck to paycheck. She has 3 dependent children and her income is below the government's poverty line. Barbara is a part of the:

A) Working Class
B) Urban Underclass
C) Lower Class
D) Middle Class

Question 33

Roz is a 34-year-old public defense attorney. She is dating Peter, a garbage collector. Roz is embarrassed about introducing Peter to her colleagues because Peter's job has a low level of respect and esteem. Roz is concerned about Peter's:

A) Wealth
B) Income
C) Power
D) Prestige

Question 34

The fact that Cindy attended an exclusive prep school, belongs to exclusive social clubs, and was born into a wealthy and powerful family qualifies her for membership in the:

A) Upper Middle Class
B) Upper Class
C) Middle Class
D) Celebrity Class

Question 35

Jan lives in a neighborhood with a high concentration of poor people. If Jan experiences upward mobility, research predicts that she will:

A) Stay in the neighborhood
B) Move out of the neighborhood
C) Encourage other upwardly mobile people to move into the neighborhood
D) None of the Above

Question 36

Wesley's grandfather was a sharecropper, farming someone else's land. Wesley's father was a farmer who farmed his own land. Wesley owns an international dairy company that is responsible for providing milk products to people all around the world. This reflects:

A) Horizontal Mobility
B) Intergenerational Mobility
C) Structural Mobility
D) Exchange Mobility

Question 37

Angela Bauer has a Masters degree in Business Administration and earns over $100,000 per year as an advertising executive. However, she is not a part of the elite class. Angela is:

A) Lower Class
B) Middle Class
C) Upper Middle Class
D) Working Class

Question 38

Chas just learned that some people are paid by the hour while others earn a salary. Chas says that he wants to earn a salary. This means that wants to be a part of the:

A) Middle Class
B) Urban Underclass
C) Working Class
D) Both A and B

Question 39

Lola is homeless. She lives on the streets of New York City. Lola is a member of the:

A) Lower Class
B) Working Class
C) Urban Underclass
D) None of the Above

Question 40

Next Saturday, students from all over the country will take the standardized SAT exam. Brittany was asked by her roommate to explain how students from different neighborhoods are likely to fare. Brittany correctly replied:

A) Students from rural areas will score higher than students from urban and suburban areas
B) Students from urban areas will score higher than students from rural and suburban areas
C) Students from suburban areas will score higher than students from rural and urban areas
D) Students from urban areas will score just as well as students from rural and suburban areas.

Question 41

Progressive taxes as income rises.

A) increase
B) decrease
C) remain the same
D) none of the above

Question 42

Because of the cost of medical school, poorer students are less likely to become doctors than higher status students. Which theorists would be more likely to examine how this trend impacts social stratification in the U.S.?

A) Functionalists
B) Symbolic Interactionists
C) Conflict Theorists
D) Entitlement Theorists

Question 43

Betty has been approved to receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families TANF). Betty asks her caseworker how long she will receive the benefits and her caseworker tells her that she can receive TANF for consecutive years.

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

Question 44

The transition from welfare to work usually results in:

A) Unemployment
B) Low-Paying Jobs
C) High-Paying Jobs
D) None of the Above

Question 45

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act:

A) Reformed U.S. Welfare Policy
B) Created the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program
C) Was Enacted by President Bill Clinton
D) All of the Above

Question 46

Lorenzo believes that social stratification in society is inevitable. Lorenzo is a:

A) Functionalist
B) Symbolic Interactionist
C) Conflict Theorist
D) Cultural Theorist

Question 47

Leanne believes that stratification occurs because people have different abilities. Leanne's beliefs are in line with:

A) Functionalists
B) Symbolic Interactionists
C) Conflict Theorists
D) Entitlement Theorists

Question 48

Maria is a welfare recipient. She receives Section 8 housing, food stamps and cash payments. Yet Maria says, "I am differenrom other welfare recipients because I need the benefits to get on my feet after leaving an abusive marriage. Most of those other women are just lazy and are taking advantage of the system." Maria is using which coping strategy to deal with the society's negative perception of welfare recipients?

A) Regression
B) Projection
C) Denial
D) Distancing

Question 49

Maxine is poor and she is against the tax thaalls more heavily on the poor. Maxine is against:

A) Regressive Taxes
B) Entitlements Taxes
C) Progressive Taxes
D) Meritocracy Taxes

Question 50

Leon is giving an in-class presentation on minimum wage earners in America. Leon tells his classmates that most minimum wage earners are:

A) Under the age of 16
B) Between 16 and 19 years of age
C) Between 20 and 24 years of age
D) Over the age of 25

Question 51

At the 20 year class reunion, classmates learned that Davey Chappelle had become a millionaire. Davey was the only millionaire out of his class and there was a lot of buzz at the reunion about how Davey made his fortune. Sara Hollinger, who always had a crush on Davey, tells her classmates that, "Davey, like all self-made millionaires, made it because he was smart and hardworking." Sara Hollinger supports the:

A) Exchange Mobility Hypothesis
B) Conflict Theory
C) Meritocracy Argument
D) Entitlement Hypothesis

Question 52

Omar is a functionalist. He believes that the amount of pay associated with a job depends on:

A) The number of men compared to women in the field
B) How important the job is for society
C) How much physical labor is required in the position
D) The amount of power that comes with the job

Question 53

Louise was a librarian who owned a home. After her husband's death, she lost her house and turned to alcohol to ease her pain. Now, Louise is a homeless beggar on the streets of San Francisco. This reflects:

A) Horizontal Mobility
B) Structural Mobility
C) Vertical Mobility
D) Exchange Mobility

Question 54

During the Great Depression in the United States, millions of people lost their jobs and their homes because of the failure of the country's economy. This reflects:

A) Horizontal Mobility
B) Structural Mobility
C) Exchange Mobility
D) Intergenerational Mobility

Question 55

Vera is a janitor on the night crew at the university. She will be retiring next week after 32 years of service. As Vera looks back over her life, she realizes that she is still in the same place that she was when she started her job. Although she worked hard and was fairly intelligent, she did not get ahead. Because of this, Vera disagrees with the:

A) Meritocracy Argument
B) Exchange Mobility Hypothesis
C) Conflict Theory
D) Entitlement Theory

Question 56

Some people believe that every American should be guaranteed health care by the government. These people suggest that health care should be provided through an):

A) Meritocracy Program
B) Entitlement Program
C) Exchange Program
D) Stratification Program

Question 57

Stephanie is a welfare recipient. She receives subsidized housing and food stamps. However, Stephanie does not like to talk about it. Stephanie is using the following coping strategy to deal with negative perceptions of welfare recipients :

A) Projection
B) Denial
C) Repression
D) Distancing

Question 58

Brett and Katherine are newlyweds. They have moved into a moderate apartment and they do not have much furniture. Although they don't have much money, Brett wants to go out and geurniture today. He tells Katherine that they can rent-to-own furniture for $100 a week over the course of 10 years. Katherine suggests that they wait until they can buy the furniture outright, to avoid heavy interest charges. Katherine's way represents:

A) Instant Gratification
B) Delayed Gratification
C) Exchange Gratification
D) Entitled Gratification

Question 59

Dorothy is a hair stylist working at Cuts-By-Us but she has applied for a stylist position at Super- Cuts so that she can work at a salon that is closer to her apartment. If Dorothy moves to Super- Cuts, she would be doing the same job and making the same amount of money. This reflects:

A) Vertical Mobility
B) Structural Mobility
C) Horizontal Mobility
D) Exchange Mobility

Question 60

Hector is interested in studying how students at his school perceive social class differences. Hector should talk to students who are:

A) Conflict Theorists
B) Structural Functionalists
C) Symbolic Interactionists
D) Entitlement Theorists

Question 61

All societies have social stratification.

Question 62

The U.S. has the greatest percentage of children living in poverty.

Question 63

Men are more likely than women to be poor.

Question 64

Most working class people attended college.

Question 65

The median household income in the United States is $19,178.

Question 66

Of wealthy nations, the U.S. has one of the highest percentages of children in poverty.

Question 67

People with higher levels of education are more likely to vote.

Question 68

Income and Wealth distribution in the U.S. is relatively equal between each 20% of the population.

Question 69

According to Edin and Kefalas, the poor view childlessness as a tragedy.

Question 70

The racial group with the highest level of poor children is Black.

Question 71

Social mobility in the U.S. is associated with education.

Question 72

The "haves" are more likely than the "have-nots" to talk about social
stratification.

Question 73

Tumin supports the Mertiocracy argument

Question 74

The lowesifth of income earners receive about 20% of the total income of the. country

Question 75

Most minimum wage workers are over 25 years of age.

Question 76

For Davis and Moore, social inequality is rooted in the system of capitalism.

Question 77

Suburban schools receive more funding than urban schools.

Question 78

TANF allows people to receive funds for five years in their lifetime.

Question 79

Most African Americans live at or below the poverty line.

Question 80

The U.S. has the largest number of millionaires in the world.